If you’re looking for great mocktails, just head over Yonder — literally. This rooftop bar opened at the end of June above Commonwealth Bistro in MainStrasse.
Conceived by Commonwealth owners Chris and Tess Burns as a way to utilize the patio above the main restaurant, the new bar features the same attention to detail that has made the bistro popular.
For Tess, who doesn’t drink, an essential part of creating a relaxing and welcoming space was offering a well-crafted selection of mocktails. So she asked Bryan Harris, Yonder’s beverage director, to create a mocktail list that was just as exciting and delicious as the cocktail menu, and he delivered. But, if you do drink, Yonder’s alcohol is also noteworthy.
The culinary menu rotates on a weekly basis. Like Commonwealth, Yonder’s chefs and bartenders use direct-from-the-farm ingredients, but the bar’s more flexible approach lets them use unique items that come in small quantities, which are perfect for an appetizer that only sticks around for a week but couldn’t be worked into the main restaurant’s menu. Past dishes have ranged from Oysters Rockabilly to wagyu beef jerky made in house.
The menu matches the spirit of outdoorsy adventure that permeates Yonder. Tess and Chris were inspired by the natural beauty of Kentucky State Parks like Red River Gorge (though, Tess diplomatically adds, “Ohio state parks are also great”). They partnered with local designer Corey Rineair, who also curated Commonwealth’s interior, to create a wood-encased space reminiscent of a treehouse. It’s complemented by Midcentury Modern touches that evoke the decades-old aesthetic still found in many state parks today.
Yonder can seat about 30 and, true to its weekend-getaway theme, is open Thursday through Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.
Yonder by Commonwealth, 621 Main St., Covington, commonwealthbistro.com/yonder.
Photos by Hailey Bollinger
